Identifying suitable detection dogs
Article
Article Title | Identifying suitable detection dogs |
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ERA Journal ID | 3057 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Jamieson, La Toya J. (Author), Baxter, Greg S. (Author) and Murray, Peter J. (Author) |
Journal Title | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Journal Citation | 195, pp. 1-7 |
Number of Pages | 7 |
Year | 2017 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0168-1591 |
1872-9045 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2017.06.010 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159117301879 |
Abstract | Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are versatile resources for humans due to a number of their physical and behavioural characteristics. Because of dogs’ olfactory acuity they have been used to detect cryptic or concealed items such as narcotics, explosives and wildlife. However, there is a wide variation in performance. This variation is often not correlated with their breed and has not been rigorously tested. Little research has compared dog breeds for their suitability as detection dogs, and even fewer studies have concluded which characteristics should be selected. This is important considering the number of dogs produced for detection work. This paper has collated the scientific literature to present important behavioural and physical traits, and traits which should be avoided, in detection dogs. The important traits include: highly play motivated; high level of cooperativeness with their handler; boldness; obedience yet independence when off-leash; and high athleticism. Although wildlife detection dogs are this paper’s focus, these proposed traits are relevant in any detection field. |
Keywords | Detection dogs, Dog breeds, Breed variation, Working performance |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 310901. Animal behaviour |
Byline Affiliations | University of Queensland |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6371/identifying-suitable-detection-dogs
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